Hmmm...local powder and primer supplies coming back...

[stew71]

...stopped by a couple of shops this week here in Sacramento and found Varget, IMR 4064, IMR 4895, RE-22, and many others on the shelf. Also found Winchester large rifle primers and small rifle primers. So, naturally, I stocked up....the guys behind the counters were all smiles after I left. Powder prices seem to be only slightly higher than last year...maybe a few bucks here and there. Primers are another story. $35 for 1000 Winnie primers....zowee!! The IMR4895 was only $19 per pound while Varget was $26. Beats the heck out of paying that cursed hazmat fee when going online....

[Chuck 100 yd]

Good to hear that!

[Mike D.]

There are gun shops in Sacramento?

[BwanaDave]

Maybe we shouldn't talk about this too much. Who knows, the state legislators may poke their heads out of the bath houses long enough to pass another law and close them down.

Dave

[dr walker]

Same here. many empty shelves in January, but they are starting to fill again.

[pahunter]

Our shelves are still empty in the western pa/wheeling area.

[stew71]

Mike D. on Wed Mar 18, 2009 2:16 pm
There are gun shops in Sacramento?

Amazingly enough...yes there are still a few around town. Although, none of them actually within city limits are carrying reloading supplies. The city put too many restrictions on powder and primer storage. The stores I mentioned are in the 'burbs since the county doesn't have those restrictions.

Along that same line, the city enacted a new law last year requiring purchasers of ammo to show ID and provide a thumb print. Needless to say, I no longer buy ammo in Sacramento now. F- them....

[Bis]

Since the neatest gun shop is 110 miles round trip and it is a very small shop and none of the big chains (min 240 miles) have any primers so I am forced to use mail order. Called Powder VAlley today, the web site says out of stock but they will take your order and fill it as it comes in. So I guess I will have to pay the hazmat fee, but the money I saved plus no sales tax will more than cover the fee. Winchester primers $24.00/1000, Varget $19.00 per pound.

[Mike D.]

Mike D. on Wed Mar 18, 2009 2:16 pm
There are gun shops in Sacramento?

Amazingly enough...yes there are still a few around town. Although, none of them actually within city limits are carrying reloading supplies. The city put too many restrictions on powder and primer storage. The stores I mentioned are in the 'burbs since the county doesn't have those restrictions.

Along that same line, the city enacted a new law last year requiring purchasers of ammo to show ID and provide a thumb print. Needless to say, I no longer buy ammo in Sacramento now. F- them....

Stew, maybe you were referring to Badgers. I don't shop there due to them being a full retail plus establishment. They try to squeeze every nickel out of the customer. Once in a GREAT while, Elk Grove has a few good buys, but they also jack up their prices since they are the only game in town, so to speak. Sportsman's Warehouse, in Roseville, did have a good selection last fall, but I haven't been there since.

[Hobie]

The shop I work in has seen some rather extraordinary sales since the election. Guns, reloading components and all the accessories. It is hard to restock. Monday, his salesman at his main supplying distributor was able to read off ALL the handguns they had on had in a minute or two. I overheard his last primer order. Bossman, "have you got any primers?" Salesman, "yeah, some ...." Bossman, "send me all you have." He got 25K CCI SR and SP primers Monday a week ago, there were 4K left Monday and I got 1K of the SPs... Previously, they would order 30K ever 2-3 months. He was looking for more primers as we unloaded the truck last Monday.

I have to kinda of laugh at myself. Most primer buyers have gotten a flat of 100 at a time, maybe 2 flats. It is not the majority that are buying up primers. But I haven't bought in 100s for 40 years! I have had a couple of guys admit that they have been buying in 5-10K lots via mail order for a while. Many of us have doubled or tripled our demand "just in case". Heck, I've been wanting to take advantage of my retirement and do some shooting!

[stew71]

Hey Mike....no I've steered away from Badger John's ever since he moved to the new location. I agree....wow...talk about ripping you off. And they seem to have stopped carrying used guns. The old place used to have some nice pieces. The last time I was there, he had nothing but new stuff...with prices to boot.

[kimwcook]

I've seen reloading components and loaded ammunition slowly starting to fill the few gun stores I've visited as of late. Maybe the peak of the frenzy is on the down slide.